When Bed Bugs Bite Don’t let the bed bugs bite Despite their role in an adorable bedtime proverb, bed bugs are pesky little pests. They sneak into your bed, your furniture, even your carpet, and while you sleep or watch TV, they bite you. The next morning, you’re left wondering why you’re red and itchy. On the following slides, we share symptoms of the bites and where the bugs hide. We pick these items based on the quality of the products, and list the pros and cons of each to help you determine which will work best for you. We partner with some of the companies that sell these products, which means Healthline may receive a portion of the revenues when you buy something using the links below. What are bed bugs? Bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects. They do not have wings and rely on humans to carry them from one place to the next. Bed bugs are a reddish-brown color and can be between 1 and 7 millimeters. They feed on blood from humans or animals, and they’re most active at night, feeding on their victims while they sleep.
What do bed bug bites look like? Some people will not experience a reaction to a bed bug bite at all. Those that do experience symptoms of a bite are likely to experience one or more of the following: a bite with a red, swollen area and a dark red center bites in a line or grouped together in a small area blisters or hives at the bite site Bites can happen anywhere on the body. they occur on areas of skin that are exposed while sleeping, such as the face, arms, legs, and hands. What are the symptoms of a bed bug bite? Bed bug bites don’t always appear immediately afterThey sometimes take a few days to begin causing symptoms. should also be noted that bed bugs don’t come out to feed every single night. In fact, they can go several days without eating. It may take a few weeks to notice that your bites are part of a larger pattern. Bed bug bites are often very itchy. experience a burning sensation on the skin several days after you’ve been
You won’t feel the bugs bite you because they excrete a tiny amount of anesthesia into your body before they bite. If you scratch the bite, you may cause a secondary infection that can lead to swelling and bleeding. What other bites resemble a bed bug bite? Unless you know you have a bed bug infestation or that you slept in an infested bed, you may not know to consider bed bugs as a possible cause of your mysterious bites. If you react to their bites, they may become slightly swollen with an itchy, irritating red center. happens, they visually resemble mosquito or flea bites in their earliestHowever, bed bug bites can appear in small groupings or in a straightMosquito bites are more sporadic. Flea bites remain very small and are typically located on your legs or ankles. Can bed bug bites cause other problems? Good news: Unlike many other biting bugs, bed bugs do not transmit diseases when they bite you. The biggest problem bed bug bites
pose is that they are likely to cause a skin infection around the bite site as a result of excessive itching and scratching. You may also be more likely to experience insomnia as a result of worrying that you will be bitten again. If you are allergic to a bed bug’s bite, you may experience more dramatic symptoms. The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction to a bed bug bite include engorged bite marks, painful swelling and burning at the bite site, and in rare cases, an anaphylactic response. Where are bed bugs found? If you suspect that you have bed bug bites, it’s important to look into the matter. Waiting for more bites prolongs the problem. Bed bugs were once rare, but in recent years, there’s been a Bed bugs are most common in facilities that have a lot of people, a lot of turnover, and close quarters. However, they can also come into your home if brought there. Listed below are the places that most commonly have bed bugs:
If I have them in my home, how will I know? Bed bugs like to hide where you sleep. If you find bites and suspect bed bugs, search around for them. You may not see the bugs themselves, but you might see tiny black dots (their droppings) or red smears, signs they’ve been biting you. Most common hiding sites for bed bugs in your home: in the crevices and seams of furniture in carpeting at baseboards or under furniture in curtains or other fabrics How are bed bug bites treated? Bed bugs are more annoying than they are dangerousThe symptoms of a bite typically disappear in one to two weeks. cream to keep yourself from itching the bite. Take an antihistamine o help reduce the itching and burning. packs can help numb the skin and reduce your urge to cream or lotion if you get an infection. Get rid of bed bugs for good! If you find bed bugs in your home, call your landlord or pest control company to have your home treated.
Learn about Bed Bug bites. their feces and how they can impact your health. Learn how Orkin handles Bed Bugs, homeopathic cures and the cost of Bed Bug extermination services. See How It Works We’re Not Satisfied Until You’re Satisfied. Bed bugs can be brought in from the outside at any time, so we can’t guarantee that your homewill never have bed bugs again. No credible provider can make that promise. We can guarantee that our customized solution will be effective for at least 30 days. If bed bugs return to your home within 30 days of the completion of our service, we will re-treat at no additional charge. Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown, oval insects up to 4 to 5 mm long or the size of an apple seed. Swollen and reddish after a blood meal. For more information, see What do Bed Bugs Look Like? Behavior, Diet & Habits Bed bugs only feed on blood. Under cool conditions, bed bugs have been able to survive up to a year without a meal. They prefer to be more active at night when the host is asleep.
Bed bugs are found in cracks and crevices, including mattress seams, sheets, furniture, behind baseboards, electrical outlet plates and picture frames. Often found in hotels, where they can travel from room to room and in visitors’ luggage or other personal belongings such as purses and briefcases. Signs of a Bed Bug InfestationAdult bed bugs are about the shape and size of an apple seed.As the juvenile bugs grow, they shed their skins, discovery of which can indicate their presence.After feeding, bed bugs return to their harborage to hide where they defecate black to brown stains on porous surfaces or black to brown mounds on nonporous surfaces. Bites also may indicate bed bug activity, but further signs will need to be found, since other sources can cause red welts on the skin. You can pick up bed bugs almost anywhere — offices, stores, hotels and gyms for starters. They’re great at hiding and have been known to hitchhike in luggage, personal belongings or even you.
Once indoors, they can be very difficult to control without the help of an experienced pest specialist. You can reduce your chances of a costly bed bug infestation by catching them early. Remove all clutter from your home, which makes finding bed bugs easier. Wash and dry your bed linens on the hottest temperature permitted. Closely inspect any second-hand furniture before bringing it in your home. Inspect your home after moving, trips, service calls or overnight guests. How serious are Bed Bugs? Females can deposit one to five eggs a day, and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in a Bed Bug’s lifetime. Under normal room temperatures and with an adequate food supply, they can live for more than 300 days. Bed Bugs and Disease It is possible that Bed Bugs can carry diseases, however, they are not known to transmit diseases to people. To learn more, see Bed Bugs and Disease. Bed Bugs feed exclusively on blood, and people have various responses to Bed Bug Bites.
To identify, learn about symptoms etc, see Bed Bug Bites. Bed Bugs can multiply quickly, so early detection is critical to help prevent an even larger infestation. Our integrated A.I.M. protection process works to assess your home, implement solutions, and monitor any bed bug problems you may face. If you have seen evidence of bed bugs or want to help protect your home against this multiplying intruder, your Orkin Man will come and inspect your home. Bed bugs are sneaky and hard to find, but your Orkin Man is trained to pinpoint evidence if they are around. On the first visit, he will examine your entire home including the bed, furniture, rugs, and linens. He will conduct an inspection of target areas, and if required, use tools to check cracks and crevices. Your Orkin Man will usually start in the bedroom and work his way through your home, concentrating on the furniture and the areas immediately surrounding the furniture. He will look for signs of bed bugs including:
Live or dead bed bugs Skins cast off during the molting process Small spots of reddish-black fecal material Tiny cream-colored eggs usually found in dark crevices Bed bugs are sneaky and hard to find, but your Orkin Man is trained to pinpoint evidence. Getting the Job Done Upon completion of the inspection and an assessment of the situation, your Orkin Man will recommend the best course of action. If the inspection confirms an infestation, your Orkin Man will recommend a treatment plan based on the severity of the infestation and your preferences.He will use the best tools and science to address the causes and treat your bed bug problem in the best way for your family, pets, and the environment. This implementation method targets bed bugs as well as the bed bug larvae — preventing them from maturing into breeding, biting, and potentially disease-carrying adults. Your Orkin Man will recommend the best course of action. Bed bugs can be difficult to eradicate;
so your Orkin technician will perform a follow-up visit to help ensure the effectiveness of the professional treatment that was performed. Additionally, your Orkin technician will document the visit and recommend next steps to ensure the best maintenance approach for your home. The Orkin Man can come back periodically to monitor your home and help prevent an infestation. Bed bugs (often misspelled as bedbugs) are small, nocturnal, wingless insects that belong to the family of Cimicidae. They feed on human blood and other warm-blooded hosts. They are oval in shape and grow up to 4 to 5 mm long when fully grown. Their skin color is rust brown to a deeper red brown. Bed bugs are also known as “mahogany flats,” “red coats” and “chinches.” The adult bed bug does not have wings and has a flattened body. Bed Bugs Petri Dish Bed bugs are both dorsoventrally flattened and thin, which creates a great advantage for them. They can hide in unusual places such as behind baseboards, floor cracks, and under carpets or behind loose wallpaper, which can make them difficult to detect.
Not only can they be hard to detect, but bed bugs also tend to stay close together and have a distinctively sweet, yet unpleasant smell. Fecal smears on mattresses and nearby furnishings are also signs of a bed bug infestation. Their bites can leave itchy welts on the skin and can cause allergic reactions, such as severe itching, though not everyone reacts to their bite. Bed bugs have existed since the ancient times and are found throughout the world. There are different species of bed bugs, but the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is particularly adaptable to human environments. Other species are known to prefer birds and bats but also will feed on humans if necessary. Since they can survive in birds’ nests, they can be seen in houses and buildings that have several bird nests, particularly on rooftops. Bed bugs have a great worldwide distribution, due to human travelers who transport them in luggage, clothing, bedding and furniture. Though they may reside in unusual places, they are also likely to be found in small cracks near a bed or in comforters and bed sheets.
It’s possible to pick up bed bugs almost any place—they’ve infested offices, stores, hotels, gyms and countless other places. They can hide in your luggage, personal belongings, or even on you, and hitchhike a ride back to your home, condo, townhouse or apartment. Once indoors, they can be extremely difficult to control without the help of an experienced pest specialist. A bed bug infestation has nothing to do with cleanliness — you can pick them up in the finest hotels, and they can hitchhike into the cleanest homes at any time. But, you can help reduce your chances of a costly bed bug infestation by catching them early. When traveling, think of the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to remember the following action steps to help avoid bringing bed bugs home with you. When at home, follow these handy tips to help keep bed bugs at bay. Think You Might Have a Bed Bug Infestation? Notify your local pest management provider immediately, or tell your property manager if you are renting so they can begin to create a customized treatment for your bed bugs.